had almost left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had almost left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was very close to leaving but did not actually do so. Example: "She had almost left the party when she received a call from her friend asking her to stay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Back in Buffalo, Stan had almost left his wife once before for Althea Wadsworth.

The New Yorker

She was heartbroken when he died in 1940 She admitted that he had never made a living and that she had almost left him.

The New Yorker

But others – including the oldest victim, 51-year-old school receptionist Jane Tweddle – had almost left the arena and were on their way out when Abedi blew himself up using a device packed with bolts and other metal objects.

The Guardian

When her plane left San Jose, California, at 7 15 a.m., she thought the day's closest shave with disaster would be that she had almost left her laptop in the car.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr. Davis got misty-eyed while he told the story of a Louisiana woman in her 80s who had almost nothing left after Hurricane Rita struck in 2005 except her determination to rebuild.

The New York Times

By the early 20th century, these industries had almost entirely left, and the villages declined.

Wikipedia

On the Republican side, gang prosecutor Elan S. Carr reported raising more than $350,000, including a $30,000 loan to himself; he had almost $286,000 left to spend.

Los Angeles Times

By the level of the anterior thalamus, the label in 24b and 24c had almost vanished, leaving the label largely confined to 24a.

Cerebral Cortex

"I had almost no time left and I was only sixth fastest," said world championship leader Pedrosa after leaving it late to thwart Yamaha's Lorenzo.

BBC

"Many people had almost no water left.

The New York Times

Payne had almost four years left on a five-year contract.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had almost left" to clearly communicate that an action of leaving was on the brink of happening but ultimately did not occur. This can create suspense or highlight a turning point in a narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had almost left" when the action of leaving actually happened. Instead, use "left" or "had left" to indicate a completed departure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had almost left" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an action that was close to completion in the past. It is constructed using the past perfect auxiliary verb "had" followed by the adverb "almost" and the past participle "left". Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had almost left" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to denote an action that was on the cusp of happening in the past but ultimately did not occur. Its use is most prevalent in news and media contexts, with a neutral formality level suitable for a wide array of communications. While alternatives like "nearly departed" or "was close to leaving" exist, "had almost left" effectively communicates a sense of near-miss or averted action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly departed

Emphasizes the proximity to leaving but uses a more formal verb.

was close to leaving

Highlights the nearness to the act of leaving, focusing on proximity.

came close to abandoning

Suggests a potential abandonment, which can be stronger than simply leaving.

was on the verge of departing

Indicates a moment right before leaving, stressing imminence.

was about to leave

Focuses on the immediate intention to leave at a specific moment.

all but left

Emphasizes that everything except the actual leaving had occurred.

practically left

Similar to 'all but left', but can imply a more practical or functional departure.

was just about to go

Informal and focuses on the immediacy of the action of going.

nearly exited

A more formal synonym for left that suggests a formal departure.

almost abandoned

Indicates a near abandonment, focusing on a potential desertion.

FAQs

What does "had almost left" mean?

The phrase "had almost left" indicates that someone or something was very close to departing or abandoning a place, situation, or relationship, but ultimately did not complete the action.

What can I say instead of "had almost left"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly departed", "was close to leaving", or "came close to abandoning" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had almost left" or should it be "almost had left"?

"Had almost left" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Almost had left" can sound awkward and is less frequently used.

How can "had almost left" be used in a sentence?

Example: "She "had almost left" the party when her favorite song started playing." This indicates she was about to leave but changed her mind.